As your ecommerce business grows, it's crucial to ensure that your platform can keep up with your business and its changing needs. By upgrading to Shopify Plus, businesses can easily handle high volumes of traffic and integrate seamlessly between various sales channels and so much more.
If you're ready to move to Shopify Plus, Americaneagle.com is here to help. Learn more about our Shopify development services.
And if you’re looking to learn more about Shopify Plus and how it can benefit your business, read on for our guide on the advantages of this robust ecommerce platform.
What is Shopify Plus?
Shopify Plus is the enterprise-level version of Shopify, designed specifically for high-growth and high-volume businesses. Shopify Plus features, including its scalability, headless commerce options, store customization, and enterprise-grade security, are ideal for companies that handle large amounts of traffic and sales orders.
When Should You Consider Upgrading to Shopify Plus?
Several factors may indicate that it is time to upgrade to Shopify Plus.
- High Traffic Volume: If your store consistently experiences high traffic levels, Shopify Plus can provide the necessary scalability and performance to ensure a smooth user experience.
- High Store Revenue: If your annual revenue exceeds $800,000, you may be overpaying on your non-Shopify Plus store due to higher transaction fees. Shopify Plus offers a higher monthly licensing fee but lower transaction/processing fees, potentially saving you money in the long run.
- Pursuing an Online B2B Model: If your company is expanding into the B2B market, Shopify Plus offers specific features such as Customer Catalogs, Draft Orders, Companies, and Salesperson accounts to streamline your B2B operations.
- Need for Advanced Customization: Shopify Plus provides exclusive checkout extensibility and customization features, allowing you to tailor your store to your unique business needs.
- Requirement for Specialized Integrations: If your business requires API integrations with external systems or ERPs, Shopify Plus offers more flexible integration options.
- Setup of Robust Tax Software: Shopify Plus allows for the integration of advanced tax software like Avalara, simplifying tax compliance for your business.
- Growing Team: With Shopify Plus, you can have unlimited staff accounts within your Shopify Admin, making it easier to manage a growing team.
- International Expansion: Shopify Plus enables you to create multiple storefronts under the same store, allowing you to set up region or country-specific stores to better serve your international customers.
Reasons to Upgrade to Shopify Plus
Upgrading to Shopify Plus offers numerous benefits for your growing ecommerce business.
Scalability and Performance
Shopify Plus is built to handle high traffic and large sales volumes, ensuring your store remains fast and responsive even during peak periods. Many businesses experiencing rapid growth have found Shopify Plus the ideal solution.
Advanced Customization and Flexibility
With Shopify Plus, you can access enhanced customization options, allowing you to tailor your store to your unique business requirements. Some examples of customization possibilities include advanced checkout and custom scripts.
Custom Shopify scripts are pieces of code that will allow merchants to create a personalized experience for customers during checkout or in the cart. Scripts can be created to:
- Hide payment methods that may not be available in their area
- Run specific promotions
- Offer special pricing
- Customize shipping rates
For a Shopify Plus user, checkout pages can be customized with a one-click upsell feature, and you can add messages, trust badges, and social links or restrict products that are age-restricted. Shopify Plus gives merchants and businesses a great deal of flexibility and options for creating custom experiences.
Enhanced Support and Resources
As a Shopify Plus user, you'll have access to dedicated account management and priority support. This level of support can lead to faster problem resolution and valuable strategic advice for your business.
Dedicated account management from Shopify Plus gives high-volume businesses a designated Shopify Plus specialist who is assigned to your business and will become familiar with your store and goals. They can offer guidance and recommendations for strategic planning and growth.
With Shopify Plus, your issues are prioritized, and you'll have faster response times to inquiries. When your account manager knows your business and goals, they can provide more tailored advice and fixes, and escalate concerns to senior-level specialists, giving businesses a higher level of responsiveness over the regular plan.
Access to Exclusive Ecommerce Features
Shopify Plus offers exclusive features that can help streamline your operations and enhance your marketing strategies, such as:
- Extended Shopify Flow capabilities – automate tasks and processes
- Launchpad – schedule and manage sales and product launches
- Shopify Scripts – customize checkout experiences
B2B Commerce Capabilities
Shopify Plus offers powerful B2B features that allow you to provide unique experiences, ordering options such as re-ordering or bulk orders, pricing tiers, and personalization for your B2B customers, setting them apart from your B2C customers.
Better Integration Capabilities
Shopify Plus offers enhanced B2B integration with more complex third-party systems and APIs. These integrations can improve functionality in several ways:
- Streamline data flow with automated processes and real-time visibility into inventory levels, order status, and other critical data.
- Enhance functionality with customizable workflows that automate complex B2B processes like credit checks or automatic discounts.
- Improve the customer experience with faster order processing and self-service options.
Improved B2B integration capabilities with Shopify Plus can lead to reduced errors, higher customer satisfaction, and greater efficiency. Benefits will depend on the integrations you choose and how they align with the business processes. It's important to work with a Shopify Plus partner like Americaneagle.com with expertise in B2B commerce.
Improved Security and Compliance
If you're a business that handles large volumes of transactions, you may face a greater risk of security breaches. Regulatory agencies will take into account measures a business has taken to prevent a breach. If a business fails to install even basic security, it could be considered a compliance failure. Strong security from the start is a win-win for both your customers and any government regulatory agencies.
Shopify Plus offers users Level 1 PCI DSS compliance. It is the highest level of certification. This means all stores on Shopify Plus are automatically PCI compliant, and customer payment data is secure. Shopify Plus is compliant with other standards, such as SOC 2 or HIPAA. You can find details on Shopify's compliance reports page to see what applies.
Shopify Plus offers more detailed user permission controls and restricts access to sensitive data based on user roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, stronger password policies are in place for Shopify Plus staff accounts.
Benefits of Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus offers a range of benefits designed to help your ecommerce business thrive and grow. Let's explore some of the key advantages.
Scalable Pricing and Features
Shopify Plus offers a flexible pricing structure that can be tailored to your business needs. As your business evolves, you can easily add or remove features, ensuring that you only pay for what you require. This scalability allows you to optimize your costs while still accessing the advanced capabilities necessary for your growing business.
Increased Conversation Rates
The features available on Shopify Plus are designed to improve the user experience and boost conversions. For example, reducing frustration with faster load times can significantly improve customer satisfaction and encourage more sales. Additionally, a one-size-fits-all checkout process often doesn't work with consumers looking for more personalized shopping experiences. Shopify Plus' customizable checkout process gives users the ability to choose their preferred payment methods and shipping options, and overall, a greater sense of control. By leveraging these features, you can create a seamless shopping experience that drives higher conversion rates and revenue growth.
Global Capabilities
With Shopify Plus, you can easily expand your business globally. The platform supports multiple currencies and languages, allowing you to reach customers worldwide. Shopify Plus integrates with various digital payment gateways and shipping carriers, enabling you to offer localized payment and delivery options to your international customers. To sell globally, Shopify Plus joins with multiple shipping carriers, including FedEx, DHL, UPS, and carriers in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Financial Considerations of Upgrading
Making the decision to upgrade to Shopify Plus requires careful financial consideration.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
While Shopify Plus has a higher monthly cost compared to the standard Shopify plan, it's essential to weigh this against the benefits and potential ROI. The advanced features, enhanced support, and increased scalability offered by Shopify Plus can lead to significant growth and cost savings in the long run. By conducting a thorough cost-benefit analysis, you can determine if the upgrade makes financial sense for your business.
Long-Term Value
Investing in Shopify Plus can propel long-term growth and sustainability for your ecommerce business. Many businesses find substantial financial benefits after upgrading to Shopify Plus. For example, the advanced features and customization options can help businesses increase their average order value, improve customer retention, and streamline operations, leading to profitability and long-term success.
Is Shopify Plus Right for Your Business?
At Americangeagle.com, we specialize in providing ecommerce solutions and Shopify Plus services. Our team can help you assess whether Shopify Plus is the right fit for your business and assist with the upgrade process and long-term support. We'll work closely with you and your stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition and help you fully leverage the power of Shopify Plus to drive your business forward. Contact us today to learn more!
FAQs About Shopify vs. Shopify Plus
Read frequently asked questions about Shopify versus Shopify Plus.
What is the main difference between Shopify and Shopify Plus?
Shopify is designed for small to medium-sized businesses, while Shopify Plus is tailored for enterprise-level businesses with higher sales volumes and more complex requirements. Shopify Plus offers advanced features, greater customization options, and dedicated support to meet the needs of larger businesses.
How much does it cost to upgrade to Shopify Plus?
The cost of Shopify Plus will vary depending on the plan and pricing and depends on your business's specific needs and requirements. In general, it can start around $2,000 a month. Contact the ecommerce specialists at Americaneagle.com for more detailed information on Shopify Plus’s pricing structure.
How do I migrate from Shopify to Shopify Plus?
Americaneagle.com's team of experts can guide you through the entire migration process, ensuring a flawless transition. Key steps in the process include:
- B2B requirements review
- Product data review
- Customer data review
- Integration assessment
- Functionality assessment to find what can be replaced with native B2B functionality
What kind of support does Shopify Plus offer?
Shopify Plus offers enhanced support options, including 24/7 priority support, dedicated account managers, and launch engineers. These support resources are designed to help you quickly resolve any issues, optimize your store, and maximize your success on the platform. In addition, Americaneagle.com's services include dedicated Shopify Support, ecommerce strategy, digital marketing, and more.
Can I customize the checkout process with Shopify Plus?
Yes, Shopify Plus allows for extensive customization of the checkout process using Shopify Scripts. This feature enables you to create unique checkout experiences, offer targeted discounts, and implement custom pricing rules, giving you greater control over the customer journey and helping to increase conversions.
For checkout customizations, checkout extensibility is a faster, more efficient, secure, and upgrade-safe alternative to checkout.liquid. Shop Pay and checkout extensibility combine seamlessly. You can benefit from a number of additional features and capabilities by upgrading to checkout extensibility, such as the following:
- Checkout customizations
- Checkout Editor
- Shopify Pixels
- Branding API
Checkout customizations can be created that are integrated into apps with checkout extensibility. Installing and updating these apps is quick and safe. Furthermore, checkout extensibility is always developing with new apps and enhanced features to better serve your needs.
